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Cheap rockfish could soon replace cod as chippies face a battering from the cost of living crisis.<\/p>\n
Soaring prices alongside sanctions on Russian boats have seen chip shops looking for inexpensive alternatives.<\/p>\n
The industry is eyeing rockfish and hake, which are abundant off the US west coast. Pacific perch, a type of rockfish, is said to taste like cod.<\/p>\n
Andrew Crook, president of the National Federation of Fish Friers, said the huge surplus in the US could \u201ctake the pressure off\u201d.<\/p>\n
Mr Crook, who was in a recent industry delegation to Oregon, said: \u201cMost people know what they want before they come through the door. And getting people to change is very difficult\u201d.<\/p>\n
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But he added: \u201cWe\u2019ve got to explore alternatives because it\u2019s the right thing to do to protect the fish and chip industry.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe entire system needs a rethink and we need to \u00adcreate a strong, independent \u00adhospitality industry.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Crook, who runs Skippers Fish & Chips in Euxton, Lancs, called for government help.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cIndependent businesses are just about keeping their head above water. If we lose these businesses, we\u2019ll never get them back.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prices have skyrocketed since a tariff on Russian white fish was imposed after the invasion of Ukraine. The country had supplied around 40 percent of cod imports.<\/p>\n
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Cod, which peaked at \u00a3240 for 18kg, has fallen to around \u00a3206 while potatoes are up from \u00a38 to \u00a325 for 25kg.<\/p>\n
Vinegar firm Sarson\u2019s has warned that half of our 10,500 chippies could shut in three years due to rising costs.<\/p>\n
It comes as Essex University warned of a growing mismatch between the fish we catch and the fish we want to eat could impact \u201cour future food security\u201d.<\/p>\n
Researchers found if we ate more local species, such as herring and mackerel, UK seafood production would still not meet domestic demand or the Government\u2019s healthy eating recommendations.<\/p>\n